Aeroplane



S. HEIDEN Oct. 1l, 1932.

AEROPLANE Filed Feb. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet S. HEIDEN Oct. 11, 1 932.

AEROPLANE Filed Feb. 27. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. ya e'zfel( TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 PATENT oFFlCE SIMON' HEIDEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGANmerma Application led February 27, 1930. Serial No. 431,684.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvementin an aeroplane andparticularly one of the heliocopter type.

It is an objectof the present invention to provide an aeroplane having awing structure which will assure maximuml strength and at the same timeoffer a minimum resistance to the propelling of the vehicle through theair. y

Another object of the invention isthe provision in an aeroplane of meansfor driving the aeroplane forwardly and upwardly and controlling thedirection of travel of the vehicle when going either forwardly orupwardly. Y

Another object of the invention is the provision in an aeroplane of astructure whereby the operator may, at will, elevate the plane tovarious heights without disturbing its horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a guiding mechanismwhich may be moved in a plurahty of directions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be bestunderstood byV a reference to the;accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and inwhich, Y

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central vertical sectional view of theinvention.

Fig. -2 is'a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a view taken onlines 3 3 of Fig.

1 with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. l. Y

The invention comprises a body or housing 9, on the floor 1 0, on whichis mounted the operating motor 11, which is covered by the box-likestructure 12. Projecting upwardly- 45. from the motor l1 through thecover 12 is a shaft 13 having a bevel gear 14 fixedly mounted thereonand meshing with a bevel gear 15, which is mounted on the shaftl'projected"through the bearing 17 and carrying the propeller blade 18which is used for driving the vehicle forwardly. The rear end of theshaft 16 is journaled in a socket formed in the collar 19 which isloosely mounted on the shaft 13. J ournaled in bearings 20 and 21 is ashaft 22 which is in alignment with 55 the shaft 13 and on which isslidably mounted the clutch section 23 which is designed to co-operat'ewith the clutch section 24 ixedly mounted on the shaft 13. The clutchsection 23 rotates in unison with the shaft 22 and 60 when rocked by theclutch yoke 25 into the position shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 22 willrotate in unison with shaft 13. The clutch yoke 25 is pivotally mountedon the standard 26 and extended to a position to be accessible 65 to thedriver of the aeroplane who may be seated on the seat 27. 'Rotatablymounted on the shaft 22 is an arm 28 carrying the troughshaped blades 29and 30.

The wing structure of the aeroplane com- 70 prises the horizontallydisposed bottom 31 which forms a top for the body of the aeroplane andwhich is downwardly offset oentrally of the body as at 32to form a.recess or cavity in which is positioned apropellor 34 which is iXedlymounted on the shaft 22. A housing or cover 33 is positioned over thepropellor 34 and provided with a central opening 35. The top of the wingstructure comprises the inclined members 36 and 37 80I` which inclineoutwardly and downwardly adjacent thc center of the body. As shown inFig. 2, the shape of the wing structure is in the form of aquadralateral polygon and the vertices at opposite sides are hingedlymounted so that the`portions 38 and 39 may be swung downwardly to permitthe entry of the aeroplane into a hanger requiring less width than thespread cf the wing when in operative position. The rear vertex of thewing structure or the tail 40 is also swingably mounted for tiltingdownwardly.- A balance plate 41 projecting -outwardly at opposite sidesof this tail structure 40.

' Secured to the member 31 and projected 95 downwardly therefrom is'arod 41 on which is attached by a universal joint 42, theliorizontallydisposed rod 43 which forms an axis for the rudder, having thevertically extending wings 44 and 45 and the horizontally ex- 100tending wings 46 and 47. The shaft 43 con-` nects to a T 48 which isslidably mounted on the arcuate rod 49 secured in suitable brackets 50and 51. The construction is such that the shaft 43 may swing on thejoint 42, the T 48 travelling lengthwise of the arcuate rod 49.Connected to one side of the rudder is a cord 52 and acord 53 connectsto the other side and these cords being extended and wound upon a spool-54 which is fxedly mounted on the rotatable rod 55 on which is a handwheel 56 so that the operator of the vehicle by turning the hand wheel56 may determine the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Brackets 57 and 58 roject outwardly from opposite sides of the ody andserve to support shafts 59 and 60, on which are mounted the cross-shapedblades 61 and 62 and 63 and 64. The arm 65 and 66connects to the shaftsand 59 and are connected to a suitable cable 67 which leads toa positionaccessible to the driver of the vehicle so that a rocking of theseblades 61, 62,. 63 and 64 may be effected. y

Blades 68 and 69 are swingably mounted to serve as a closure for theopening 70, cables 71 and 72 connecting to these closures and bein"passed downwardly into the body accessible to the driver of the vehicleso'that they may be swung to closed position when desired.

LIounted on the top of the wing structure are. bearings 73 and 74 forthe shaft 75 on whlch .is swingably mounted the vertically extendingguide rudder 76 which is normally held by the spring 77 in uprightposition and lvshich may be rocked on its pivot by the cord Land gearcomprising wheels 82 and 83 are mounted on studs 84 projected into thehousmg 85 an'd slidably therein the springs 86 serve to absorb theshock.

In operation when the motor 11 is started, the shaft 13 through themeshing of the gears .14 and 15 will effect a rotation of the propeller18 which will have a tendency to drive the vehicle forwardly when theresistance oferedby the contact of the ground with the wheels 82 and 83is removed. When the operator is prepared to -move out withthe vehicle,the clutch section 23 may be brought into engagement'with the clutchsection 24, thus setting the blades 29 and 30 into rotation as well asblades 34 to produce the desired lifting effect. The speed with which'this lifting effect is brought about will, of course, depend largelyupon the speed of rotation of the shaft 22 but may also be regulated byopening or closing`the closures 68 and 69, the raising effect beingincreased when the I closures are in open position. By rocking therudder 76, the vehicle may be propelled upwardly into any desireddirection. In this upward movement by proper tiltino' of the blades 61,62, 63, and 64, the speed of lifting the vehicle, as well as thedirection ofl travel, may be regulated. The rudder, which will controlthe direction of upward movement of the vehicle on account of itsmountings, has a maximum of freedom in its movement, thus facilitatingto a large extent the guiding of the vehicle.

The blades 29 and 30 are so rotated that the closed edge leads leavingthe open edges to follow, and on account of the downward tilt of theseblades from the arm 28 an outward, upward, and downward motion istransmitted to the air. The air enters the circular opening from abovein ample volume and the blades 29 and 30 also force this air outwardlyagainst the walls of the cabin or superstructureto assist in the liftingeffect. By a rotation of the blades 29 and 30, a vacuum in any part ofthe vehicle isprevented so that there is no air resistance offered tothe lifting effect. The blades 29 and 30 rotate in a direction oppositeto the direction of the plates 34. The plates 34 are flxedly mounted onthe shaft 22. A bevel gear 169 meshes with a bevel gear 170 which, inturn, meshes with the gear 171 carried by the arm 28 so as to effect therotation of the arm 28.

The gear 15 isslidable on the shaft 16 and rotatesl with this shaft.This gear 15 may be moved into and out of mesh with the gear 15 by thelever 15.

The Wing structure asshown in Fig. 2 is of a kite-like nature or outlinehaving the,

upper and lower surfaces which are spaced apart, the space being greaterat the center of the wing structure.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to theprecise details of structure shown 4but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as may come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aeroplane wing of kite shape having a top; a bottom spacedtherefrom, the distance between said top and said bottom being greatertoward the center and narrowing until said bottom and said top engageeach other at the outer edges, said top having at its center a circularopening, and a circular opening in said bottom registering with theopening in said top; and hinged extensions at the corners of said wing.

2. In an aeroplane, a kite shaped wing; hinged extensions at -the edgesof said wing; means for driving the aeroplane forward in a horizontaldirection; rudder'means on the sides of said aeroplane for balancing thesame; rudder means on the top; a steering means for operating therudders on the sides for regulating the elevation of the areoplane whilein horizontal Hight.

3. In an aeroplane having a body, a kite shaped wing, comprising-z a topand a' bottom, said bottom forming a top for sald fuselage and meetingat its outer edges with sai/d top, and said top being inclined outwardlytherefrom toward the center and provided' with an opening in its center;an inwardly offset ortion on said bottom in registration with t eopening in said top; and a horizontallydisposed propeller rotatablymounted and positioned within said offset ortion.

4. An aeroplane wing of kite s ape, ha v ing a top a bottom spacedtherefrom, the distancebetween said top and said bottom being w greatertoward the center and narrowin until saidv bottom and said top englageeac other at the outer edges, said to aving at its center a circularopening, an a circular opening in said bottom registering with theopening in said top; a vertically extended shaft projected through saidbottom at said opening; and a propeller on said shaft po- -sitionedabove the opening in said bottom and below the opening in said top; andmeans for rotating sald shaft.v

5. In an aeroplane having a body, a kite shaped wing comprising: a topand -a bottom said bottom forming a to for the fuselage and meetingatits outer e ges with said top,

and said top being inclined outwardly therefrom toward the center andprovided with an opening inits center; an inwardly offset por-- tion onsaid bottom in re istration with the lopening in said top and aving an onin a5 formed therein; a vertically extende sha projected centrallythrough said offset portion; a horizontally disposed propeller mountedon said shaft and positionedwithin said offset portion; and means forrotating o said shaft.

6. In an aeroplane having a body a kite sha ed wing comprising: a topanda bottom sai bottom forming a top vfor the body and meeting at its outeredges with said top, and

said top being inclined outwardly therefrom toward the center andprovided with an opening in its center; an inwardly oiset portion onsaid bottom in registration with the open ing in said top and having anopening formed therein; a rotatable shaft projected centrally throughsaid offset orton; a horizontally disposed propeller xedl mounted onsaid shaft and positioned wit in said offset portion; and a pair ofoppositely faced trough shaped blades ixedly mounted on said shaft androtatable in unison therewith below said offset portion, said bladesbeing slightly inclined to the horizontal.

. In testimony whereof I have signed the 6o foregoing specification. c Y

, SIMON HEIDEN.

